Defrosted water treatment structure for refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A condensed water and defrosted water treatment structure for use in a refrigerator is provided. One drain hose can be employed regardless of the number of evaporators, thereby obtaining a cost-down effect in manufacturing refrigerators. In addition, an inflow of ambient air into an evaporator through a drain hose can he prevented.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to a defrosted water treatment structure for use in a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, refrigerators are domestic appliances to keep food in a refrigerating or freezing state.

In detail, a refrigerator is divided as a refrigerator compartment freshly kept in above-zero temperature and a freezer compartment kept in below-zero temperature, which are adapted individually in the refrigerator. A refrigerant cycle is applied inside the refrigerator to maintain a predetermined temperature in the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

An evaporator providing the refrigerant cycle is installed on a back wall face inside the refrigerator, to perform a heat exchange of inner air and refrigerant. A surface temperature of the evaporator is lower than an indoor temperature and thus condensed water is generated on the evaporator surface in a step of performing a heat exchange with inner air. Furthermore, the condensed water is frozen and adheres onto the evaporator surface and then is changed into frost. When frost is cumulated on a surface of the evaporator, heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator with inner air falls.

To solve such problem, a defrosting heater is installed in the side of evaporator, or a backward progression of refrigerant cycle is performed for a given time to melt and remove frost formed on the surface of evaporator.

Further, as described above, condensed water or defrosted water formed on the surface of evaporate is gathered in a drain pan fixed to the bottom of evaporator, and the condensed water gathered on the drain pan is dropped to the bottom of machine room through a drain tube.

On the other hand, recent refrigerators are produced with a structure that evaporator is installed on each back wall face of refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment. To remove condensed water or defrosted water generated in a plurality of evaporators to cool respective refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment, a drain pan and a drain tube are adapted in a lower part of the respective evaporators. The plurality of drain tubes are protruded piercing through an upper face of the machine room.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a drain hose coupled to a drain tube according to a conventional art.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a conventional refrigerator, drain tubes corresponding to the number of evaporators are formed extended from an upper face of a machine room, and a drain hose 1 is adapted in each drain tube.

An inlet portion 2 of the drain hose 1 is coupled to an end part of the drain tube, and an outlet part 3 of the drain hose 1 is installed facing to a drain pan provided on a bottom of machine room. Thus, condensed water and defrosted water dropped through the drain hose 1 is gathered in the drain pan adapted on the bottom of the machine room. The condensed water and defrosted water gathered in the drain pan is thrown away directly by a user or thrown away outside through a discharge pump.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In the conventional refrigerator described above, when evaporators are adapted in a plural number, drain tubes are provided in a plural number, and each drain tube is coupled to a drain hose as shown in the drawing. That is, when the number of evaporators increases, the number of drain hoses also increases, increasing a manufacturing cost. Furthermore, a drain hose must be each coupled to a drain hose, causing a lengthened assembly process.

Further, in disposing a plurality of drain hoses, a flow resistance of air sucked through a condensation fan becomes great.

Accordingly, some embodiments of the invention provide a condensed water and defrosted water treatment structure for use in a refrigerator, which is simplified by installing one drain hose regardless of the number of evaporators or drain tubes. A manufacturing cost can be reduced and an assembly process is simplified through a simplified structure of drain hose. In addition, an inflow of ambient air into an evaporator through a drain hose can be prevented.

Technical Solution

According to an embodiment of the invention, a defrosted water treatment structure for use in a refrigerator comprises a plurality of drain tubes extended from a ceiling of machine room, through which the water generated on an outer surface of an evaporator flows; a drain hose having an inlet portion into which the plurality of drain tubes are inserted and combined; and a drain pan provided on a bottom of the machine room, in order to gather the water dropped out of the drain hose.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, in a condensed water and defrosted water treatment structure according to some embodiments of the invention, one drain hose can be employed regardless of the number of evaporators, thereby obtaining a cost-down effect in manufacturing refrigerators.

In addition, a process of coupling a drain hose to a drain tube is simplified and thus an entire assembly process is shortened.

Furthermore, one drain hose can be used regardless of the number of evaporators, thereby increasing a space use efficiency of machine room and reducing a movement resistance of indoor air sucked into the machine room.

Further, an inflow of ambient air into an evaporator through a drain hose, which generates condensed water, can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate example embodiments of the present invention. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be considered as limited to the embodiments set forth in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a drain hose coupled to a drain tube according to a conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a rear face of refrigerator with condensed water and defrosted water treatment structure according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of drain hose according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view for a combined relation between drain tube and drain hose.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art appreciating the ideas of the present invention can easily propose other embodiments through addition, deletion, change, etc. of components within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a rear face of refrigerator with condensed water and defrosted water treatment structure according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a refrigerator 10 having a condensed water and defrosted water treatment structure according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a main body 11 having a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment in the inside thereof; a compressor 13 compressing refrigerant into high-temperature and high-pressure; a condenser 14 to perform a heat exchange of the refrigerant passed through the compressor 13 with indoor air; an expansion valve (not shown) through which the refrigerant passed through the condenser 14 is expanded into low-temperature and low-pressure; and an evaporator (not shown) through which the refrigerant passed through the expansion valve is heat exchanged with inner air.

In detail, machine room 12 is adapted on a lower face of back side of the main body 11, and in the machine room 12, the compressor 13 is installed. On one side face of the machine room 12, a cooling fan 15 sucking indoor air and guiding it into the machine room 12 is installed. From a ceiling portion of the machine room 12, a drain tube 30 (referred to FIG. 4) is extended, through which condensed water and defrosted water generated in the evaporator is dropped and flow. An end part of the drain tube 30 is coupled to a drain hose 20, and a drain pan 16 to receive falling condensed-water is installed on a bottom face of the machine room 12.

The condenser 14 is installed on a back face of the main body 11 to perform a heat exchange with indoor air. The condenser 14 may be installed inside the machine room 12 according to a kind of products. Further, the evaporator is each adapted on a back face of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer room, between an inner case of the main body 11 and an outer case of the main body. Or, a specific duct may be stuck to a front part of the inner case, and the evaporator may be adapted in a space between the duct and the inner case. A specific fan receiving condensed water is adapted in a lower side of the refrigerator compartment evaporator and the freezer compartment evaporator, and the drain tube 30 is extended downward from a bottom face of the drain pan.

Further, drain tube 30 extended from the drain pan of the refrigerator compartment and drain tube 30 extended from drain pan of the freezer compartment may be arrayed with a given interval in the before and behind and right and left directions. The drain hose 20 is adapted in a structure of surrounding together one pair of drain tubes 30. Condensed water and defrosted water falling from a plurality of drain tubes is dropped to the drain pan 16 provided with the machine room 12 along one path.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of drain hose according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view for a combined relation between drain tube and drain hose.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an inlet portion 21 of drain hose 20 according to an embodiment of the invention is formed in the size enough to surround a plurality of drain tubes.

In detail, the drain hose 20 has a length distanced with a given interval from a bottom face of the drain pan 16. In the inlet portion 21 of the drain hose 20, a transverse face is formed extended larger than the main body. Further, the plurality of drain tubes 30 are inserted into the inlet portion 21.

On the other hand, on an inner circumference face of the inlet portion 21, a latch part 211 is formed protruded to be stopped by the drain tube 30. On an outer circumference face of the drain tube 30, a protrusion part 31 stopped by the latch part 211 is protruded.

In detail, the latch part 211 is formed on a portion of inner circumference face of the inlet portion 21 or formed in an annular shape on an entire inner circumference face, and may be formed slanted to become narrower approaching toward an end part. The protrusion part 31 may be formed surrounding the entire outer circumference face of the respective drain tubes 30 or may be formed only on a portion contacted with an inner circumference face of the inlet portion 21 of the drain hose 20.

More in detail, the protrusion part 31 may be formed slanted in a type of becoming narrower approaching toward an end part. In inserting the inlet portion 20 of the drain hose 20 into the drain tube 30, a slanted face of the latch part 211 moves along a slanted face of the protrusion part 31. When the latch part 211 goes over the slanted face of the protrusion part 31, the latch part 211 is stopped by a stepped face as shown in the drawing. Therefore, the latch part 211 is not separated from the drain tube 30 unless an outer force of given level is applied to the drain hose 20.

In the drain hose 20 having such structure of the inlet portion 21, even when the drain tubes 30 are provided in a plural number, the same purpose and effect can be attained by one drain hose 20.

Further, a ledge 22 for preventing ambient air from being introduced into the drain tube 30 may be extended from an inner side of the inlet portion 21.

In the prior art, ambient air flows backward into the space for accommodating the evaporator through the drain tube 30, then decreases a heat exchange efficiency of cool air. To prevent such defect, the ledge 22 shown in the drawing is formed extended from an inner side of the inlet portion 21 of the drain hose 20. The ledge 22 is closely in contact with a front inner circumference face and a back inner circumference face of the inlet portion 21. In other words, the ledge 22 is provided in a barrier type with given width and height, to individually form a stored-water space 212 in lower parts of respective drain tubes. The respective stored-water space 212 has a section structure.

In another method, the ledge 22 may be formed of a turbular shape having a given diameter. That is, the ledge 22 of a turbular shape with a given diameter may be formed extended upward from a center part of the inlet portion 21. Then, a single stored-water space 212 of a donut shape may be formed between an inner circumference face of the inlet portion 21 and an outer circumference face of the ledge 22.

On the other hand, an upper end height of the ledge 22 is higher than a lower end of the drain tube 30, and is formed with a length extended at a position of height lower than the inlet portion 21. A specific stored-water space 212 is formed through the ledge 22 inside the inlet portion 21. Condensed water and defrosted water dropped from the drain tube 30 are gathered in the stored-water space 212, and a water level of the condensed water and defrosted water dropped into the stored-water space 212 becomes filled until reaching to the ledge 22. When the condensed water stored in the stored-water space 212 becomes filled to an upper end part of the ledge 22, the lower end part of the drain tube 30 soaks in the stored condensed water. In this state, an inflow of air into evaporator through the drain tube 30 is prevented. When the stored-water space 212 is completely filled, this state is maintained, and then condensed water and defrosted water flowing into the stored-water space 212 overflows from the ledge 22. The overflowing condensed water and defrosted water is gathered in drain pan 16 through the drain hose 20.

As described above, air inflow prevention ledge 22 is adapted inside the inlet portion 21 of the drain hose 20, thereby preventing air from flowing into evaporator through the drain tube 30.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in the above, they are only examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. It may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and applications may be made without departing from the essential feature of the present invention. For example, each of the components specifically represented in the embodiments of the present invention may be modified. And, differences associated with this modification and application should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention defined in accompanying claims. 

1. A defrosted water treatment structure for use in a refrigerator, comprising: a plurality of drain tubes extended from a ceiling of machine room, through which the water generated on an outer surface of an evaporator flows; a drain hose having an inlet portion into which the plurality of drain tubes are inserted and combined; and a drain pan provided on a bottom of the machine room, in order to gather the water dropped out of the drain hose.
 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an outer circumference face of each drain tube in close contact with an inner circumference face of the inlet portion.
 3. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a latch part protruded on the inner circumference face of the inlet portion; and a protrusion part protruded on an outer circumference face of the drain tube.
 4. The structure according to claim 3, wherein the latch part is formed on a portion of the inner circumference face of the inlet portion or formed in an annular shape on the inner circumference face of the inlet portion.
 5. The structure according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion part is surrounded in an annular shape on an outer circumference face of the drain tube, or formed on a portion of the outer circumference face of the drain tube.
 6. The structure according to claim 3, wherein the drain hose is configured to be fixedly coupled to the drain tube by a movement of the latch part along the surface of the protrusion part to be latched by the protrusion part.
 7. The structure according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the latch part and the protrusion part is slanted such that the sectional area becomes narrower toward an end part thereof.
 8. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising a ledge for preventing ambient air from being introduced into the drain tube provided in an inner portion of the inlet portion.
 9. The structure according to claim 8, wherein the ledge is provided as many as the drain tube.
 10. The structure according to claim 8, wherein the ledge is configured as a shape of plate, and the edge portions except the upper edge portion of the ledge contact to the inner surface of the inlet portion.
 11. The structure according to claim 8, wherein the ledge has a tubular shape with a predetermined diameter.
 12. the structure according to claim 8, wherein an upper end of the ledge is higher than a lower end of the drain tube, and is lower than an upper end of the inlet portion. 